Cold as Ice, Chapter 10 (Final Chapter)

The doors of the church creaked open and Melinda stumbled in. She grabbed one of the back pews for support and brushed her soaked hair out of her eyes. Every muscle in her body ached but that would soon pass if she gave herself a few minutes to rest.

“Melessia, are you okay?” Kai emerged from the back of the church and hurried across the hall to her side.

“Where are the kids?” She asked as he put an arm around her and helped guide her towards the back.

“In the office, I thought it would be safer than sitting out here in the main hall.” Kai said.

“Are then okay?” she asked.

“Yes,” he answered, “but are you okay? Is Isa...”

“I’ll fine, and yes. It’s finally over. Well, almost. There’s one last thing I need to do before I go home but I wanted to spend a few minutes with them first so they know I’m okay,” she smiled.

“I’m sure everyone will be happy to see you,” Kai said.

“Everyone?” she asked.

“Sonic showed up a while ago to check on everyone when he found out, he’s just been pacing the floor waiting for you,” Kai answered.

“At least I get a welcoming party, huh?”

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“Mom!?” Miles almost jumped off the couch in excitement

“Aunt Mel!?” Cream asked excitedly.

Melinda made her way over to the couch and the two kids slid apart for her to sit down between them.

“You two okay?” Melinda put an arm around each of them and pulled them close, smiling when she looked down and noticed MIles still clutching her coat.

“Mr Kai and Mr Sonic we’re here, so I wasn’t scarred,” Cream said.

“I’m glad,” Melinda turned to Miles, “Aren’t going to say something?”
“I’m fine, I just need a minute.” he had closed his eyes and buried his face in her side, “are you okay?”

“I’m fine, just a little sore and in need a warm shower,” she said.

“Shouldn’t you know by now old people like you shouldn’t be straining themselves?” Sonic finally spoke from across the room with a laugh.

“What’s that? I can’t hear you clear down there?” she chuckled, “You might have to stand on something.”

“Maybe you just forgot your hearing aids, Grandma? Do you need to borrow some from Grandpa over there?” Sonic teased, motioning towards Kai.

It was at that point that the entire room finally erupted in laughter, relieved at a normal moment.



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Melinda stood staring at the gravestone, smiling despite the tears streaming down her face.. The name read Maxwell Blake and the date reflected a long life, 1807-1880. Next to this was a stone bearing the name Violet Blake that read 1805-1875. In the center of the connected stones was the year 1823 when they married.

To anyone else this stone was just a reminder of the past, but her it was yet another life she had nurtured and watched bloom. She was there from that terrible night in the warehouse, holding him her arms and stayed with him as a mother figure from that day on.

When his first child was stillborn there came a moment they were alone and away from judgement, and he broke down in her arms once again. He had spent too long trying to be strong for Violet and couldn’t lock it all away anymore.

She remembered him hugging her with joy and telling her she had become a grandma when Violet gave birth to his second son, and despite being a naturally smaller species and peaking at barely 3’ 10’, he still almost managed to lift her off the floor. It was times like the moment that followed, holding what she considered to be her grandson that she felt one of the greatest gifts of being immortal.

So much to think about in one moment, an entire lifetime flashing through her mind. Joy, sorrow, pleasure, pain, life and death. Emotions somehow simultaneously both conflicting, yet somehow still accentuating one another via the contrast.

“It’s always bittersweet, isn’t?” The voice coupled with the familiar tingling and static in the air pulled her from her daydream.

“Yes, but it’s hard to describe even after all these centuries. The pain of losing them cuts so deep, but at the same time you feel such happiness thinking back on the lifetime spent together. It’s almost like a warm blanket shielding you from cold or a beacon in the dark,” She took a deep breath and looked up at the night sky.

“You know, some believe that the the spirit world is somewhere out there in the heavens, and that each and every worthy soul rests among the stars,” Kai smiled as her gaze met his.

“Are the kids okay?” She asked.

“Miles ran off with Sonic and I made sure Cream was safe at home with her mother.” Kai replied.

“I’m surprised you’re not there with them,” Melinda said with a grin.

“I’m only friends with Vanilla, it’s nothing serious and-”

Melinda cut him off, “Come on now, I’ve known you for over 200 years. I can tell you like her,” she teased.

“Nothing like that, besides I’m too old and I’m not sure I’m cut out to be a parent,”

“You’d make a great father, you’re good with kids. I mean, you’ve been like the cool uncle to Miles his whole life,” Melinda said.

“That’s different because, well it just is,” Kai said, starting to turn red.

“Nonsense, and what do you mean too old? Unless you plan to find one of us that ship sailed about 180 years ago.” Melinda teased.

“Is this what it what feels like for mortals when their mothers keep asking them for grandchildren?” Kai asked.

“I dunno, ask Miles in about twenty years,” Melina chuckled.

Kai merely laughed in return and shook his head.

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The first thing Melinda noticed upon entering the house was Miles on the couch, reading a technical manual, her coat laid across the back of the couch next to him.

“Had to wait up for me?”” she smiled..

“It’s really not that late and I couldn’t sleep, anyway” he said.

“I guess it’s just been one disaster after another, huh? Kind of hard to relax after all that.” she took a seat next to him and cracked her neck.

“Yeah.” he said.

“You okay?” she asked.

Miles stayed quiet and closed the book, placing it in his lap.

“You wanna talk about it?” she asked, putting an arm around him.

“Just give me a second,” she could tell he was holding back tears.

“Come on, it’s okay,” she hugged him tighter and he buried his face in her side, “It’s just us now, let it out.”

“I thought I’d lose you today,” he began to sob into her shirt and wrapped his arms around her, his body shaking.

“I know, honey, but I’m here now and it’s going to be okay.” she spoke in the most soothing voice she could manage, “so just let everything out.”

“I was just scared that I wouldn’t see you again,” he choked, “it was torture waiting for you to come through that door back at the church.”

“I was afraid to, afraid of having to leave you.” tears started to flow down her face. It had finally hit her full-force that this moment may have never happened, than those moments back in the warehouse could’ve been the last time she ever got to hold her son in her arms and she could’ve been ripped away. That he could’ve been crying for her instead of with her if he even made it out it all.

They cried together as she took her own advice and let it go, letting the pent-up emotions she had spent the last several hours since he was taken barely hold back wash away with her tears. Now that he was safely in her arms the time to be strong was over.

After a few moments they had both calmed themselves and she noticed Miles taking a deep breath.

“Feel better, now?” She asked.

“Yes, I kinda wish I had listened to Uncle Kai now,” Miles sniffed.

“He said you seemed to scared to talk to him,” she said.

“I was afraid I might start crying in front of him, but when he saw me start tear up he hugged me and told me that a warrior isn’t afraid to cry because it’s a sign of strength. He said tears come from love and that’s the strongest thing you can fight for. I think I understand now.”

“He gave me that one 200 years ago, it’s still one of the wisest things I’ve ever heard him say,” she smiled.

“I guess he’s always been smart,” Miles said.

“He says he learned it from me, but I sometimes I think the student has surpassed the teacher in that department,” she laughed.

“Did you mean all that stuff you said, about wanting me to the last thing you saw?” Miles asked.

“I meant every word. I’ve lived a long and full life and seen things most people can only dream of, and so I’m not afraid of death,” she kissed his head, The idea of leaving everyone behind is what scares me and that’s why it meant so much to me that I got one last smile out of you so I knew you’d be okay.”

“Is that why you told me to close my eyes, so I could remember you the same way?” Miles asked.

“Yes, and it’s why I made sure to tell you how much I loved you when I thought those were the last moments I’d spend with you. I wanted your last memory of me to be happy.”

“Thank you for saving me,” Miles said, still huddled up to her.



“I’ve got an idea,” she picked up the remote off the coffee table and flicked through the channels until she found an old movie they used to watch together. She then pulled down her coat off the back of the couch and covered Miles with it before placing her arm back around him, “I think we both need this tonight.”

Miles merely smiled and curled back up next to her.